Generators for Electronics

Inverter generators provide the most reliable power

As noted by Kirk A. Kleinschmidt in QST, a magazine about amateur radio, inverter generators are the best choice "if you want the highest margin of safety when powering expensive computers, ham radios, TVs and other sensitive electronics." Inverter generators use a motor to produce alternating current (AC) power, then use an inverter module to convert the AC to smooth direct current (DC), and then invert the DC back to well regulated 120-volt AC. They are much less likely to fry electronic equipment than basic generators, which are intended primarily for things like lights, drills or motors.

Portable generators that use inverter technology are usually identified by an "i" at the end of the model number (sometimes another letter or series of letters follows the "i"). These generators tend to be expensive for the amount of power they provide -- typically between 750 and 3,000 watts -- but if you need to power a TV or computer, this is the safest type of generator.

Honeywell introduced two portable inverter generators at the 2009 National Hardware Show; both are less expensive than highly rated Honda and Yamaha inverter generators. The 900-watt Honeywell HW1000i (*Est. $400) surges to 1,000 watts, and the 2,000-watt Honeywell HW2000i (*Est. $500) can surge to 2,200 watts. The larger Honeywell generator receives top ratings from owners posting user reviews to Walmart.com and Amazon.com. Both Honeywell inverter generators are recommended by the editors of retail website ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com, where owners have posted positive reviews as well.

The smaller Honeywell HW1000i weighs just 29 pounds; the larger HW 2000i tips the scales at 58 pounds. Both can be operated in economy mode, so the engine speed is automatically adjusted according to the electrical load, conserving fuel and minimizing noise. Honeywell's inverter generators also meet the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) strict emissions standards. The HW2000i is rated to run 6.5 hours per tank of gas at half load, while the smaller HW1000i can run five hours (at half load). Each carries a two-year warranty.

Honda, Yamaha inverter generators highly rated, but expensive

Honda and Yamaha portable inverter generators get excellent reviews from both experts and owners, but they are expensive compared with the aforementioned Honeywell generators. There are benefits, however.

Honda generators, in particular, are much quieter than cheaper portable inverter generators. The Japanese manufacturer also lets you easily daisy chain two of their generators for higher total wattage. In doing so, you spend more than you would on a single big generator, but get better fuel economy in the long run, since you can use either one or both generators at a time, depending on the situation. Daisy chaining also breaks a high-wattage setup into separate, smaller parts that are easy to move and store. Both Honda and Yamaha generators also feature "smart throttles," or economy modes (just as the Honeywell inverter generators do).

Reviews say the 29-pound, 900-watt Honda EU1000iA (*Est. $900) is the easiest to carry. Tests at Camping Life magazine find the Yamaha EF1000iS (*Est. $800), also rated at 900 watts, slightly more fuel efficient, with an hour longer runtime per tank -- 6.6 hours compared with 5.6 for the Honda. The next size up is the 1,600-watt Honda EU2000iA (*Est. $1,100). Camping Life editors say this portable generator is still quite easy to haul around, despite its 46-pound weight. The equivalent Yamaha is the 44-pound, 1,600-watt Yamaha EF2000iS (*Est. $900). The Yamaha EF2400iS (*Est. $1,300) is rated at 2,000 watts and weighs 70 pounds. The Honda EU2000iA and the Yamaha EF2400iS receive the best reviews of all these smaller Honda and Yamaha inverter generators. Even so, they cost twice as much as comparable Honeywell inverter generators.

Honda and Yamaha inverter generators at the next wattage level have electric starters and built-in wheels. Comparison tests give the 2,800-watt Honda EU3000iSA (*Est. $2,000) a slight edge in power quality over the 2,800-watt Yamaha EF3000iSEB (*Est. $2,100). However, the Yamaha has Boost Control, which lets it surge to 3,500 watts for up to 10 seconds -- especially useful for starting a small air conditioner. All Yamaha portable inverter generators come with two-year warranties, as does the Honda EU1000iA. The Honda EU2000iA and EU3000iSA have three-year coverage. All Honda and Yamaha inverter generators are CARB compliant.

Eastern Tools and Equipment (ETQ) has introduced inexpensive portable inverter generators, including the 1,600-watt ETQ IN1800i (*Est. $500) and the 750-watt ETQ IN800i (*Est. $300); both are CARB compliant. We were unable to find expert reviews of these portable generators, however, and too few owners have reviewed them for their reviews to be helpful in assessing the ETQ models' quality. One video review of the IN1800i at TailgaitingIdeas.com is useful because it demonstrates the generator in action, giving an idea as to its noise level and ease of operation, ETQ generators come with a one-year warranty.